Life always amazes me and each day I look for magic…… sometimes it comes easily, sometimes the magic brings with it painful memories, but it’s magic nonetheless. I felt the need to begin to clean out old boxes in my closet and came upon some poems I had no idea I even wrote, and the one I share today I don’t even know when I wrote it. Along with the poem I found the old pictures of me, The ones I used to hide from people so they couldn’t comment on how sad it must have been to be crippled as a child. I didn’t need that painful reminder, the memories of being teased and taunted, ridiculed and made fun of…..For a brief moment those painful memories returned and then I chose to replace them with this phrase, “ but you also got strength from it .” With my braces I learned to walk without crutches, they were put away and I refused to use them. I was told I needed the crutches to walk yet I proved them wrong! I also held my own in dealing with those who were mean to me. I learned it from my Mama, I saw her lash out at those who made fun of her precious little child (thank you Mama!) But that’s what Moms do. It was only a year or so of having to wear them but I was unable to put my legs together the entire time and I tell ya, that was not an easy thing for a child to have to deal with, let alone a Mother who was also pregnant and having to help care for me. But she did it from Love and I felt it. By sharing this, I am reminded that although it was a traumatic time for me, it gave me strengths that helped me along on my journey and helped me to become the caring person that I today. The day I was freed from those legs of steel was a day of absolute bliss and freedom.. I ran and ran until I ran out of steam and my siblings and neighbor kids also ran with me!